Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

JACKSON, Miss. – Behind dominant pitching performances from senior Vicki Honeycutt and junior Kati Morse, Southeastern Louisiana swept a doubleheader from Jackson State in non-conference softball action Wednesday evening at the JSU Softball Complex.
 
With the two wins, Southeastern (6-19) will head into Southland Conference play on a three-game winning streak. Jackson State fell to 13-13 overall with the two losses.
 
In the opener, a three-run home run by junior outfielder Kelsey Nichols in the top of the sixth inning helped the Lady Lions rally for a 3-2 win over JSU. Honeycutt (2-2) scattered three hits and struck out four in six innings of shutout relief for the victory.
 
Morse (1-2) allowed hits to the first two batters of the nightcap and then sat down 19 of the final 20 batters she faced in a 2-0 Lady Lion victory. The Ponchatoula native struck out two and walked one on the way to a complete game two-hit shutout. Sophomore second baseman Megan McCollum was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while seniors Trish Bliss and Katie Matthews each doubled and scored a run.
 
“We're extremely proud of the way that Vicki and Kati battled in the circle today,” Southeastern head coach Pete Langlois said. “As we head into Southland Conference play, we're going to need these type of pitching performances consistently. We were also really encouraged with our defense tonight. If we can play errorless ball regularly, we're going to be in a lot of games.”
 
Southeastern will now welcome Central Arkansas to town to open Southland Conference play. The series begins Friday with a 6 p.m. contest and closes with a 12 p.m. game on Saturday. The first 50 students who celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Saturday at North Oak Park with the Lady Lions will receive a free t-shirt. Live stats for the series will be available at www.LionSports.net.
 
Game One – Southeastern Louisiana 3, Jackson State 2
Jackson State got to Southeastern sophomore starter Jessie Browne in the bottom of the first inning, scoring a run without the benefit of a hit. Wendi Reed led off the inning with a walk, stole second, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Amanda Vasquez to make it 1-0.
 
The Lady Tigers chased Browne in the bottom of the second inning. Tahlisa Blosser led off the inning with a single and scored on an double by Felicia Wilson to push the lead to 2-0 and force Langlois to bring in Honeycutt. The St. Francisville native retired the next three batters to keep the Lady Lions within striking distance.
 
JSU starter Breea Jamerson (7-5) kept the Lady Lions off the board, until Southeastern's bats finally came alive in the sixth inning. Consecutive singles by senior catcher Meghan Gomez and junior first baseman Ariell Van Hook put runners on the corners with two outs. Nichols then lined a 1-2 pitch well over the left field fence to clear the bases. The Alvin, Texas native's first home run of the year gave Southeastern the lead for good.
 
JSU mounted one last threat in the bottom of the seventh inning. Singles by Reed and Ariel Siegel put the tying and winning run on base with one out. Honeycutt recovered by forcing Sabeana Romero to ground out and then shutting the door by striking out Vasquez to end a 10-pitch at-bat.
 
SLU – 000 003 0 – 3 7 0 (5-19)
JSU – 110 000 0 – 2 5 1 (13-12)
Browne, Honeycutt (2) and Gomez. Jamerson and Siegel. W – Honeycutt (2-2). L – Jamerson (7-5).
HR – SLU: Nichols (1). 2B – SLU: McCollum (4); JSU: Wilson. T – 1:47. A – 62.
 
Game Two – Southeastern Louisiana 2, Jackson State 0
Southeastern loaded the bases in the top of the first with one out, but JSU starter LeEthel Guillory (4-4) was able to keep the Lady Lions off the board.
 
Reed led off the bottom of the first with a single, but Gomez gunned her out trying to steal. After a single by Siegel, Morse battled back to retire Romero and Vasquez to keep the game scoreless.
 
In the top of the second, Bliss was hit by a pitch, Matthews drew a walk and junior outfielder Michelle Duhe singled to load the bases with one out. McCollum then lined a shot right up the middle to plate Bliss and give Southeastern a 1-0 lead.
 
Southeastern would not add to its lead until the top of the sixth inning. Matthews led off the inning with a double into the left field corner. Sophomore shortstop Kayla Elswick then laid down a bunt in front of the circle, but Lady Tiger reliever Jasmin Warren's throw to first sailed wide, allowing Matthews to come around to score and push the Lady Lion lead at 2-0.
 
Meanwhile, Morse was toying with the JSU lineup, sitting down the Lady Tigers in order in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings without allowing a hard hit ball. JSU also went down in order in the sixth, but Morse benefited from an outstanding defensive play. On the first pitch of the inning, Wilson hit a ball deep into the right centerfield gap, but Duhe fully extended to make a diving catch at the base of the wall to rob Wilson of an extra-base hit.
 
Morse allowed her first base runner since the first inning in the top of the seventh, allowing a one-out walk to Romero. Romero would stay at first, however, as Morse retired Vasquez and Tayler Nave to secure the first complete game shutout of her career.
 
SLU – 010 001 0 – 2 8 0 (6-19)
JSU – 000 000 0 – 0 2 2 (13-13)
Morse and Gomez. Guillory, Warren (2) and Smith. W – Morse (1-2). L – Guillory (4-4). 2B – SLU: Bliss (6), Matthews (4). T – 1:50. A – 62.